To Nguyen

阮公孟發1924年10月10日出生於越南，父親為阮世倫，母親為江妹，祖籍中國廣東新會潭岡。阮公13歲當機械學徒，四十年代晉升為機械技師，39歲自立門户經營機械設備生意。阮公五十年代在柬埔寨與畢鳳珠邂逅，遂於1957年結婚，育有三子兩女，後嗣十五孫及四曾孫。阮公孟發於2020年2月19日在美國加州聖地亞哥療養院無疾而终，享年95歲。

阮公孟發八十年代退休後移居美國加州聖地亞哥，一直活躍於華僑事務，曾任廣東同鄉會及東南亞耆英會理事。阮公抱着學海無崖之心，花甲之年仍勤修英語及美國歷史，成為阮家第一位取得美國公民資格。阮公為人和謁可親，慷慨良善，克勤克儉，樂於助人，幽默風趣。阮公與世長辭，各親朋戚友皆深深懷念他。

To Nguyen, age 95, of San Diego, California passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at Boulder Creek Nursing Home in Poway, CA.

To is survived by his 5 children, Minh, Xuong, Thanh, Lanny, and May; 15 grandchildren, Susan, Lucie, Stacie, Angel, Kevin, Ivy, Jenna, Eric, Sally, Ada, Andy, Brian, Brandon, Kaitlyn and Katherine; 4 great grandchildren, Liam, Ashton, Zoie, and Carson.

To was born in Vietnam on October 10, 1924 to Sai Lun Nguyen and Mui Kong. He apprenticed at a local machine shop in Vietnam at the age of 13. He worked there for three years. By the end of 1940, he became a senior machinist. In the 1950s, a start-up machine shop from Cambodia was very impressed with his skills and offered to employ him. His pay was also raised from $44 per day to $60 per day. In 1957, To married Phung Chau Bat, a wonderful Chinese woman from Cambodia. He worked very hard for his family. He worked ten hours during the day and four hours at night Monday through Saturday. On Sunday he worked on an eight-hour shift.

To's greatest achievement was opening his own machine shop at the age of 39. He passed on his knowledge and skills in machinery work to his three sons. By 1980, at the age of 56, To was able to leave his shop business in the hands of his two sons and enjoyed more quality time with his wife and children. Another great achievement for To was the passing of his naturalization test at the age of 74 despite his limited English proficiency and became the first person in his family to obtain US citizenship. The whole family was so proud of him.

To was an active senior. He took the bus to the Senior Club in East San Diego almost every day. He loved to play mahjong and socialize with his friends there. To was an active member of the club and served as the treasurer. To was talented in languages. He loved to tell people that he could speak multiple languages- Cantonese, Mandarin, Chiu Chow, Cambodian, Vietnamese, French, and English. Ever since emigrating to the US, he was determined to learn English fluently. He loved going to Bayside Senior ESL class.

To always has a great sense of humor. He would always make other people laugh and smile. He was loving, kind, compassionate, and generous. He will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him.

A visitation for To will be held Friday, February 28, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121. A funeral service will occur Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121. A committal service will occur Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121. A burial will occur at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, California 92121.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sorrentovalleychapel.com for the Nguyen family.